Madness at the Playplace

Every now and then I take the boys to McDonald's for lunch so they can play in the Playplace.  It gives them the chance to burn some energy, especially on rainy days, and it also gives them the chance to socialize with other kiddos.  But today was perhaps the worst experience we've had there.  There were a group of kids there today that were exceptionally rough and mean.  And I swear one of the little girls could be the poster child for bullying even though she's probably only four!

Ethan was hit in the face twice and left with a nice bite mark on his pinky.  I'm thankful he came to me after each incident and told me what happened without hitting or biting back.  He was not the only one who was hit or bit though.  Other kids were going to their mothers and telling them they had also been hit or bit by the same group of kids.

But what really got under my skin was the response of the grandmother of one of the "attackers".  She simply said, 'kids will be kids', as if that justifies hitting and biting.  (This is not the first time I've had experience with this particular family, nor is it the first time I've heard her make such a remark.  The joys of living in a small town!)

I believe kids will be kids to a point.  Kids are curious.  Kids like to push buttons to see how far they can go. Kids like to explore.  Kids like to play.  But you cannot use that phrase to justify or defend hitting and biting.

Kids need discipline.  And I'm not talking about corporal punishment.  Discipline is about training and providing boundaries.  As a parent, I believe it is my responsibility to train my children in the way they treat others and the way in which they respond to others.  A parenting book I recently read also pointed out that as parents we should be concerned with the heart, not just the outward behavior.  So we're not just teaching them what to do or what not to do, but why.

It's not always easy.  Ethan doesn't always listen to us.  There are times when he hits or yells.  But we don't let him get away with it.  There are consequences and more importantly there are teachable moments.